WHO added cancer medicines to essential medicines list

Cancer medicines have been added to the latest version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Essential Medicines List and the Essential Medicines List for Children, which have been published on Wednesday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said “The recommended changes bring the number of medicines on the Essential Medicines List to 502 and 361 for the Essential Medicines List for Children. For over 40 years, countries all over the world have relied on the WHO Essential Medicines List as a definitive, evidence-based guide to the most important medicines for delivering the biggest health impact.”

 The new lists also include important new medicines for treating multiple sclerosis, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular conditions, among others.